Stream Watch Volunteer Manual 2021
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2021 STREAM WATCH VOLUNTEER MANUAL Volunteers Making a Difference on the Kenai Peninsula! kenaiwatershed.org/stream-watch/ Dear Volunteer, Thank you for volunteering to make a difference with Stream Watch this summer! Beginning in 1994, volunteers have dedicated thousands of hours protecting and conserving the important natural and cultural resources on the Russian and upper Kenai River through assisting with hands-on stewardship projects and peer-to-peer education. In 2011, Stream Watch was expanded to include additional popular recreation and fishing sites on the lower Kenai Peninsula in hopes of making a bigger difference educating anglers and visitors about how to reduce their impacts on the land, fish, wildlife and cultural resources. In addition to great work on the ground, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the company of other dedicated volunteers while working in some of the most beautiful places on the planet. As the eyes and ears of the land managing agencies, your presence, your concern and your efforts to protect Kenai Peninsula rivers will have a lasting impact. Every time you answer a question, pick up a piece of trash or mend a river protection fence, you can be assured that you are making a HUGE difference! On behalf of the partner agencies and entities, we sincerely thank you for your time and dedication and look forward to working with you this season. Be safe and have fun! AK Department of Natural Resources: Division of Land, Mining & Water AK Department of Natural Resources: State Parks Chugach National Forest City of Soldotna Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Kenai Peninsula Borough 1 Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Stream Watch – “At a Glance” 3 Stream Watch Sites at a Glance 5 Day in the Life of a Stream Watch Ambassador 7 Safety 8 Educational Messages 14 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) From Visitors 17 Site Descriptions 19 Kenai-Russian River Complex 19 Bing’s Landing-Kenai River Special Management 22 Moose Range Meadows 24 Centennial Park, City of Soldotna 26 Kenai Beach 28 Mouth of the Kasilof River 30 Ninilchik River 32 Deep Creek 34 Anchor River 36 Important Dates 38 Key Contacts 40 Additional Resources 42 2 Stream Watch – “At a Glance” Mission Assisting Kenai Peninsula land management agencies with river protection projects and peer-to-peer environmental education to Kenai Peninsula visitors and residents Introduction Each year hundreds of thousands of local, national and international visitors come to the Kenai Peninsula to enjoy world-class recreational opportunities including some of the best trout and salmon fishing on the planet. The impacts of this can be many. If not managed effectively, the rivers and surrounding areas can begin to deteriorate from litter, trampled plants, illegal fishing or other inappropriate uses. To help ensure that these special places and the plentiful natural resources are not jeopardized, volunteers play a critical role in assisting the partner agencies in being the hands, eyes, and ears on the ground each season. Since the creation of the program in 1994, Stream Watch has grown from only a handful of people to over 70 active volunteers who work on the Kenai, Russian and Kasilof Rivers. Administration and Partners The Stream Watch program is jointly administered by the Chugach National Forest and the Kenai Watershed Forum in partnership with the following: ● Alaska Department of Natural Resources o Department of Mining, Land and Water o Alaska State Parks ● City of Soldotna ● Kenai National Wildlife Refuge ● Kenai Peninsula Borough Volunteer Coordinators Two volunteer coordinators provide support to Stream Watch volunteers. Duties of the coordinators include: volunteer training, scheduling, special event planning and assisting with on-the-ground projects such as fence installation and litter patrols. Responsibilities include: Schedule and coordinate volunteers Develop and facilitate projects Act as liaison between agency managers, on-site staff, and volunteers Provide on-site support Collect data and report Supporters The Stream Watch program’s success is attributed to the dedication of individual volunteers and groups such as Alaska Fly Fishers, Alaska Geographic, Alaska Recreational Management, Alaska Wildland Adventures, City of Kenai, ConocoPhillips, McLaughlin Youth Center, Trout Unlimited, Youth Restoration Corps and more. These groups have supported the program by providing staff or financial resources as available over the years. 3 Volunteer Opportunities There are two ways to get involved with the program: Ambassador Program Ambassadors are trained volunteers that donate at least 24 hours during the summer 2021 season and are provided with incentives for making an ongoing commitment to the program. Stewardship Day Program Provide volunteers an opportunity to get their feet wet during a one-day project like river clean-ups, erosion control projects and fence installation. If you know of a group who would like to participate or you would like to be a volunteer leader for the day, please contact a volunteer coordinator. Training Volunteers receive a mandatory, in-depth training on effective outreach and program protocols, logistics and safety. In addition to a pre-season training session, on-site river orientations are scheduled to familiarize volunteers with site specifics including logistics and educational messaging. However, for the 2021 season we are opting for smaller group presentations of no more than 10 people at a time to take place in the areas that people will be volunteering. Contact the Stream Watch Coordinator in your area and set up a time for orientation. Agency Abbreviations ADFG (Alaska Department of Fish and Game) ARM (Alaska Recreational Management, Inc) CNF (Chugach National Forest) DNR (Alaska Department of Natural Resources) KNWR (Kenai National Wildlife Refuge) KWF (Kenai Watershed Forum) USFS (United States Forest Service) USFWS (United States Fish and Wildlife Service) 4 Stream Watch Sites at a Glance Site Key Messages Priority Tasks Russian and Proper river access and habitat Education Upper Kenai protection (boardwalk & designated Fence mending River trails) Sign maintenance (USFS and Bear safety (food storage Litter USFWS) order, fish possession, etc.) Fish waste management Fishing regulations Bings Landing Proper river access Check in with campground (Alaska State (designated trails & access points) host Parks) Restroom awareness Share parking info Bear safety Education Fish waste management (river bank protection) Parking and regulations Fence mending (trail) Litter Moose Range Proper river access (boardwalks) Education (River bank & LNT) Meadows Bear safety Fence mending (USFWS) In-water fishing regulation Litter Regulations and leave no trace (LNT) Sign Maintenance Centennial Park Restroom awareness Check in with campground (City of Soldotna) Fish waste management host Proper river access Share parking info (handicap boardwalk) Education (fish cleaning Bear safety station) Monofilament collection Sign maintenance Litter Kenai Beach Dune protection Education/Dipnet Booth (City of Kenai) Restroom awareness (dune protection, restrooms, Leave no trace (LNT) LNT) Bear safety Document vandalism Fish waste management Litter Cultural resource protection Ethical angling and regulations Kasilof River Dune protection Education (Division of Restroom awareness (dune protection, restrooms, Mining, Land & Leave no trace (LNT) LNT) Water) Bear safety Document vandalism Fish waste management Litter Cultural resource protection Ethical angling and regulations 5 Site Key Messages Priority Tasks Ninilchik River Proper river access Education (Alaska State Restroom awareness Trash pickup Parks) Bear safety Fish waste management Cultural resource protection Ethical angling and regulations Deep Creek Proper river access Education (Alaska State Restroom awareness Trash pickup Parks) Bear safety Fish waste management Cultural resource protection Ethical angling and regulations Anchor River Proper river access Check in with campground (Alaska State Restroom awareness host Parks) Moose awareness (calving) Share parking info Bear safety Education Fish waste management Trash pickup Cultural resource protection Moose hazards notifications Ethical angling and regulations 6 Day in the Life of a Stream Watch Ambassador Diverse opportunities and duties exist with the Stream Watch program. As a volunteer, you have the opportunity to schedule work on any of the sites on the Kenai Peninsula based on site preference and availability. In addition, the program’s success has been built upon working with individuals to craft a plan to meet both the needs of the site and the abilities of the volunteer(s). Duties Duties can include: ● Walking trails and informing the public about diverse topics (habitat protection, bear awareness, regulations, fish waste management, fishing techniques) ● Standing in key locations to alert visitors about important information (regulation change/bear safety) ● Installing or mending river protection fences on trails or along the river ● Completing hands-on projects for erosion control ● Picking up litter and/or monofilament fishing line Volunteer Commitment Becoming a Stream Watch Ambassador is a commitment to the river and to the program! By signing the mandatory volunteer agreement, volunteers agree to follow the program protocols, complete required paperwork and commit to volunteering at least 24 hours during the summer season. The agreement must be signed before an individual is allowed to volunteer at Stream Watch sites.